Brooder



March 8, 1932. (glFFEN 1,848,420

BROODER 'Filed Dec. 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l 0. A GIFFEN March 8, 1932'.

BROODER Filed Dec. 2; 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet V Patented Mar. 8, 1932 GTTO A. GIFFEN, OF NEWARK, OHIO BRO ODER Application filed December 2, 1929. Serial No. 410,933.

r This invention relates to brooding systems for poultry and is particularly directed to that class of broodersknown as colony brooders? and which derive their heat from i a central heating system. This invention has for its principal object the provision of a brooder in which the proper temperature is maintainedat all times within the hover 7 while at the same time an adequate supply of;

fresh air is maintained within the hover and proper ventilation of the hover is insured thereby adding to the .efiiciency of the brcode er and eliminating those, dangers attendant 7. upon the use of hovers in which the chicks are crowded in unventilated areas. I

'A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a brooder in which the hover may be raised and the entire floor i space under the hover exposed thereby per mitting the hovers to be thoroughly cleaned and maintained ina sanitary condition. l a

a A still further object of the invention re-.

sides in the provision of a brooder provided I r With a plurality of hovers and so arranged that the use of any one or more of the hovers maybe discontinued and the floor space occupied by them rendered available for other purposes without in any degree aflecting the efliciency or operation of the remaining hovers.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination of elements and A. arrangement of parts hereinafter to be more fully described pended claims. I

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of my improved brooder showinggin plan the hovers and centralheating system,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, r 1 'l Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 ofFigure 2; Figure 4' is a sectionalview taken on the line 1- of Figure2,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of my improved brooder taken onthe line 5-5 of Figure 2, v

swin ing gates as shown by the line 77 of and pointed out in theap- V Figure 6 is a-vertical sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, and

Figure 7 is a partial elevation of the Figure 1. i Referring more particularly to, the drawlngs, the numeral 1 represents'my improved brooder in its entirety which includes end walls 2 and 3, 21 front wall 4 and a rear Wall 5, which walls are formed toinclude the usual windows '6 and door 7. At the end of the brooder l is provided a boiler room 8 which is separated from the brooder room 9 by the wall 10. The floor 11 of the brooder T001119 is formed preferably from concrete although any suitable flooring may be ems ployed and is constructed so as to slope to ward that portion of the building containr ing the boiler room. Inside the ,brooder and adjacent the rear wall 5 is provided a longitudinally extending pit 12, one edge of the floor '11 terminating at the top of the inner wall 13 of the pit. I prefer to form the pit 12 so that its bottom'wall 14 is approximately 2 feet below the plane of the floor 11 and eX- tends in a plane parallel thereto. I prefer also that the floor of the boiler room 8 be not higher thanthe bottom wall 14 of the pit. The pit'l2 extends the full length of the bro-Oder room 9 and isseparated from the'boiler room 8 by the wall 10. I

, Adjacent the wall 5 and at right angles thereto are positioned vertically extending spaced partitions 15, each having one edge suitably secured to the wall 5 and one edge resting on and suitably secured to the floor 11 and extending into the room 9 a suficient distance to provide the space adjacent the pit and wall 5 and betweenthe walls 10 and 3 into a suitable number of hover areas 16. Each partition 15 extends downwardly into the pit 12 so as to meet-each of the walls 7 thereof thereby dividing the pit 12 into areas corresponding in width to thehover areas or spaces. I prefer toremploypartitions 15' extending vertically to the. ceiling although they may be employed of a lesser height;

In each hover area there'is supported verticallywithin the pit 12 a partition 17 The N partion 17 is formed preferably from an in sulating material and is positioned parallel to and approximately equidistant from the side walls of the pit. Each partition 17 ex tends the full width of the hover area and its vertical ends are suitably secured to the wall or partition defining the limitations of the hover area as shown in Figure 3. The partition 17 extends from 1 to 2 feet above the plane of the floor 11 and its lower edge 18 is spaced from the bottom wall 1% of the pit. v

The partition 17 is supported in its 30Sltion by means of spaced vertically c tending members 19 which are in turn secured to the wall 5. The members 19 e nd vertically from the bottom wall 1% of the pit to the top of the partition 17 thereby dividing the space between the partition 17 and the wall 5 into a plurality of air ducts 20 and preventing lateral movement of air within the area between the partitions 17 and the wall 5. I have found it very satisfactory to employ in a structure of this character a pit of approximately 12 inches in widtl vith the partition so spaced that the air ducts 20 are approximately 6 inches in width. It will be understood, of course. that the dimensions may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Secured to the partition 1'? is a horizontally extending shelf or deflector 21, its free edge 22 being above and spaced fromthe edge of the floor 11. The shelf 21 extends the full width of the hover area and serves to define the upper limit of the heating chamber 23. If desired the spaced dividing members 24 may be employed within the heating chamber 23 extending vertically from the bottom wall 14 of the pit to a point at or near the level of the floor 11 so as to prevent lateral movement of the air within the chamber 23.

\Vithin each hover area is provided a hover 25 which extends the full width of the hover area 16 as defined by the partitions or walls and comprises a top portion 26 and front portion 27. The top portion of the hover is hinged at one edge to the deflector, as at 28, and extends normally outwardly and upwardly. The front portion 27 of the hover is hinged to the top portion as at 29 so that the front portion during the operation of the hover always remains vertical. The hover is supported in its operating position by a chain or rope 30 which is secured at one end to the top of the hover near its outer edge as at 31 and passed over a friction pulley 32 secured to the roof of the brooder 1.. A weight 33 may be attached to the free end of the chain so as to counterbalance the weight of the hover By means of this arrangement not only is the hover 2! supported in its proper operating position but it may be maintained in any desired position of vertical adjustment. The portions 26 and 27 of rail-3,420

the hover are formed to include an inner portion 34 of insulating material with an outer covering 35 of suitable metal.

A back wall 36 is suitably fastened to the top of the floor 11 with one face of the wall 36 in approximately the same plane as the inner face of the inner wall 13 of the pit. The wall 36 extends longitudinally the entire width of each hover and its upper edge 37 is spaced from the lower sioe of the deflector 21 as shown in Figure 2. I have found in practice that with the lower edge of the deflector 21 approximately 6 inches above the top of the floor 11, the back wall 36 should be approximately 3 inches in height. The opening 38 between the top of the back wall and the deflector is covered with a wire mesh or screen 39. Attached to the upper edge of the wall 36 by hinges 40 is a door 41 which serves when desired to completely close the opening 38 thereby preventing communication between the heating chamber 23 and the area under the hover 21'.

Suitably positioned in the boiler room 8 is a boiler 4-2. By means of the pipe 11 hot water is circulated from the boiler through a plurality of pipes 1st and is returned to the boiler by way of the pipe 15. p The plurality of pipes 44 extend longitudinally the full length of the brooder room 9 and are positioned between the partition 17 and the inner wall 13 of the pit, each pipe in a plane parallel tothe plane of the surface of the floor level. Each of the pipes 4 is passed through suitable openings in the wall 10, the partitions 15 and the dividing members 24 so that the pipes id extend through each of the heating chambers An automatic regulator 46 may be employed for controlling the temperature of the water in the boiler in accordance with the temperatures desired under the hovers 25.

' It will be seen that in my improved brooder the cool air passes downwardly in the duct- 20 between the wall 5 and the partition 17, then under the lower edge of the partition 17, then upwardly through the heating chamber 23 between the partition 17 and the inner wall 13 where the temperature of the air is raised to the desired degree by reason of the pipes 4:4 receiving hot water from the boiler 42. As the heated air passes upward it strikes the deflector 21 and passes through the opening 38 into the space under the hover 25. As the air under the hover 25 is cooled it passes out from under the hover by way of the space 47 beneath the front portion 27 and is imme diately replaced by fresh warm air coming from the heating chamber 23 by way of the opening 38. My improved brooder not'only insures adequate ventilation for the area under the hover but insures that the entire floor area under the hover will always be warm since the cool air immediately passes out from under the hover. The distribution of heat'under the hover 25 is further assisted by the metallic portion-'35 on theunder. side of the hover which tends to reflect the heat downwardly. My improved brooder therefore, not only provides an improved heating system which results in the uniformheating ofthe whole area but provides for ventilation forthe chicks while under the hover which is of the-utmost importance particularly inbrooders where large. numbers of chicks are confined at one time as isusual in the case of commercial poultry raising.

willalso be observed that when the brooding seasonis over and the hover is no longer required to be used the same may be folded back as shown in Figure 2, against the wall and all of the floor space of the floor 11 is made ava lable for whatever purpose is found most desirable. My improved brooder is so constructed that where a plurality of hovers are employed the use of anyone or more of the hovers may be discontinued without in any manner affecting the efficiency of the remaining hovers. Then it is desired to discontinue the use of a' particular hover the hover 25 is folded against the wall 4, as shown in Figure 2, and the door 41 is retained bya suitable fastener. The closing of the opening 38 prevents the escape of the heated air from the heating chamber 23 and the partition which extends to the bottom of the pit 12 prevents any lateralmovement of air into the adjoining hover thereby permitting there? maining hovers to function undisturbed.

In order to prevent the chicks confined in the brooder from gaining access to the top of the hover I have provided panels or gates if hover .25 is in its lowermost position.

48 which are arranged in pair'for each hover.v

Each gate is formed preferably to includean angularly bent rod having a vertical portion 49 received within spaced eyebolts 50, as at 51. Suspended from the horizontal portion 1 52 of the rod by suitable members 53 is a panel of wire mesh or hardware cloth. The gates 48 are so positioned that thelower edge of each gate is parallel to and adjacent the upper edge of the frontportion 27 when the One of the gates comprising each pair is provided with a latch 54 which may be engaged with the corresponding horizontal member of the opposite gate so as to retain the gates against F swinging movement when in position. It

will be seen that the gates in no way interfere i with the adjustment of the hover and when it is-desired toraise thehover 25 for the purpose of cleaning the gatesmay be swung outwardly as shown in Figure 1. They may also be lifted upward, thus freeing them frointhe eyebolts thereby making it possible .to quickly remove the gates for storage when the hover is not being used. Since the gates are made from wiremesh they will afford no obstruction to the passage of light and willv not interfere with the proper circulation of air withinthe broQderJ Positioned against the under side of th floor 11 and-extending throughout the entire length thereof are a'plu'rality of horizontally spaced pipes 55 which are connected withthe boiler 42 by meansof-t he hot water pipe 56 and the return pipe 57. The number of the .pipes 55 may be varied inaccordance with the ma 'terials of which the floor 4 is constructed but I prefer always tohave one ofthe pipes 55 positioned under the floor 11 at a point beneath the hover 25. By means of this construction hot water from the boiler 42 is cir-,. culatedthroughthe pipes 55 thus warming the floor 11 and thereby preventing the condensation of moisture on the fioor which invariably results when warm air within a brooder contacts with the floor.v This is especially true whenthe floor 11 is formed from concrete or similarmaterial. Since moisture is the common cause of.most poultry diseases, particularly lnyoung chlcks, I have provided a dry floor thereby eliminating a those causes and insuring a sanitary and unusually healthful brooder. A warm dry floor also tendsto eliminate floor drafts thereby adding to the efficiency of my brooden It 'will be understood, of course, that the tem-.

perature of the-water .in the pipes 55 should only be sufficient to warm the floor 11 and prevent theaccumulation of moisture thereon and for that reason the temperature of the I water in the pipes 55 maybe maintained lower than the temperature of the water in the pipes 44; or the boiler. I therefore provide means for reducingthe temperature of the water comingfromthe boiler before it enters the pipes 55. Connecting the hot water pipe 56 and the return pipe 57 is a by pass pipe 58 in which are located valves 59 and 6 0. The pipe 61 serving as an intake for an electrically operated centrifugal pump 62'is connected with'the pipe 58 between the valves 59 and 66. A discharge pipe 63 connects-the pump 62 with the pipe 56. The valveoe is positioned in the pipe56 between the boiler and the connection with the" pipe 55 It will thus be seen that when the valves 59and are closed andthe valve 64 is open the water from the boiler42 is circulated throughthe pipes 55 by means of :ll, thenno siphon system, By closing the valve 64, partially opening valves 59 -and 60 and operating '3 the centrifugal pump 62 a certain amount of cooled water from the return pipe 57 is drawn into the pump and mingles with a certain amount of hot water from the boiler 42 so that the temperature of the Water entering the pipes by way of pipes 56 and 63 is thereby reduced. By manipulating the valves 59 and 60 and operating the pump 62 the water entering the pipes 55 may be cooled to the temperature desired. By closing the valves '60 and 64, opening the valve 59 and operating the pump 62 a forced system is established for circulating the water through the pipes 55. It will be understood that in the operation of this system the pump 62 may be operated periodically or continuously, as desired.

In order to maintain the air within the brooder room 9 at the desired temperature during all seasons of the year I prefer to employ a plurality of horizontally extending pipes 65 adjacent the wall which are secured to the wall 5 at a point some distance above the floor level 11. The pipes 65 are connected with the boiler 42 by means of the pipes 66 and 67 whereby hot water from the boiler is circulated through the pipes 65 thereby heating the air in the room '9 to the desired temperature. V A valve 68 is provided in the pipe 66 for regulating the rate of fiow of water in the pipes 65 or for shutting it off altogether when desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A brooder structure formed to comprise a longitudinally extending pit adjacent one wall and along one edge of the floor of said structure, a partition supported vertically within said pit approximately equi-distant from the side walls thereof and extending both above and below the plane of the floor of said structure and spaced from the floor of said pit, a horizontally extending shelf positioned against the inner side of said partition, said shelf extending above the inner half of said pit and having its free edge above and spaced from said floor edge, a hover hingedly connected with the free edge of said shelf and extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom, a member positioned on said floor above the inner wall of said pit, the upper edge of said member being spaced from the under side of said shelf, and a plurality of hot water pipes positioned in said pit between the inner wall thereof and said partition.

2. A brooder structure formed to include a longitudinally extending pit adjacent one wall and along one edge of the floor of said structure, a longitudinally extending partition supported above the floor of said pit and spaced from the side walls thereof, and extending above and below the plane of said floor, a shelf positioned against said partition and having one edge above and spaced from the edge of said floor, a plurality of name vertically extendinglaterally spaced artitions positioned on said floor so as to ivide the floor adjacent said pit into hover spaces, a plurality of hovers, each of'said hovers being arranged in one of said hover spaces, each hover being hinged at one edge to said shelf and normally extending above said floor, adjustable means for maintaining the free edge of each of said hovers at a desired elevation, a plurality of longitudinally .upstandingmembers, each member extendin upwardly from the edge of the floor in one 0 said hover spaces, the upper edge of each of said'members being spaced from said shelf so as to form a passage in each of said hovers, a plurality of hot water pipes extending longitudinally ofsaid pit and positioned below each of said shelves for causing warm air to circulate under each of said hovers by way of said passages, means associated with each of said members for closing each of said passages, and means for preventing the lateral movement of air in said pit.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' OTTO A. GIFFEN. 

